Real-time measurements for establishing database of sporting apparatus motion and impact parameters

Abstract

A sporting apparatus used by a person for engaging in a sporting activity. The sporting apparatus includes a single or multiple embedded MR sensors for measuring magnetic vectors of the earth magnetic field for dynamically recording a path of motion of the sporting apparatus in real time. In a preferred embodiment, the sporting apparatus further includes one or multiple MEMS accelerometer sensors for sensing acceleration of a designated portion of the sporting apparatus for measuring impact velocity as the designated portion impacting a ball. In a specific embodiment, the sporting apparatus is a golf club wherein the accelerometer sensors are disposed adjacent to the grip side of the shaft for sensing the impact of the club head against a golf ball. In another specific embodiment, the golf club further includes a magnetic field sensor disposed near the grip end of the golf club for measuring a motion path of the golf club.

1 . A method for providing sports performance feedback to a sports player who is using a sporting implement, the method comprising: 
 using at least one magneto-resistive sensor embedded in said sporting implement for measuring orientation parameters; and    using said orientation parameters for dynamically determining one or more results from a set comprising: 
 movement profile, velocity, acceleration, impact angle, launch angle, face angle and impact speed, hitting zone, direction of swing and swing path plan of said sporting implement.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein dynamically determining one or more results further comprises using, embedded in said sporting implement, at least one device from a set of devices comprising: a microcontroller and a digital signal processor (DSP)  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein measuring said orientation parameters includes measuring three-dimensional earth magnetic field vectors associated with a motion of said sporting implement.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using at least one accelerometer sensor for measuring acceleration parameters associated with a motion of said sporting implement for dynamically determining said one or more results.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating said parameters and said one or more results to a remote computer for further processing using wireless mechanisms.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said wireless mechanisms comprises one or more of: infrared, Blue Tooth, WiFi, Zigbee, and Radio Frequency transmission.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating said parameters and said one or more results to a remote computer for further processing using wire-based mechanisms.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said wire-based mechanisms comprises one or more of: RS232, SPI, USB and I 2 C.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a communication module embedded in said sporting implement, said communication module for sending said parameters and said one or more results to a remote computer for further processing.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a portable display module capable of communicating with said sporting implement, said display module for displaying said one or more results.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a memory module embedded in said sporting implement, said memory module for storing data associated with said at least one magneto-resistive sensor and said feedback.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a remote database for storing said one or more results.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a remote database for comparing said one or more results with corresponding performance results associated with other sports players.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a remote database for comparing said one or more results with corresponding historical data of associated with a past performance of said sports player.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said parameters are used for tracking and diagnosing a performance of said sports player during use of said sporting implement.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sporting implement is any one of a set of implements comprising: a baseball bat, a cricket bat, a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a squash racket, a boxing glove.  
     
     
         17 . A system for providing sports performance feedback to a sports player who is using a sporting implement, the system comprising: 
 at least one magneto-resistive sensor and at least one accelerometer sensor embedded in said sporting implement for measuring velocity, acceleration and orientation parameters; and    wherein said parameters are used for dynamically determining one or more results from a set comprising: 
 movement profile, launch angle, face angle and impact speed, hitting zone, direction of swing and swing path plan.  
   
     
     
         18 . A system for providing sports performance feedback to a sports player who is using a sporting implement, the system comprising: 
 means for measuring velocity, acceleration and orientation parameters; and    means for dynamically determining, based on said parameters, one or more results from a set comprising: 
 movement profile, launch angle, face angle and impact speed, hitting zone, direction of swing and swing path plan.  
   
     
     
         19 . A system for providing sports performance feedback to a sports player who is using a sporting implement, the system comprising: 
 at least one magneto-resistive sensor and at least one accelerometer sensor embedded in said sporting implement for measuring velocity, acceleration and orientation parameters;    wherein said parameters are for dynamically determining one or more results from a set comprising: 
 movement profile, launch angle, face angle and impact speed, hitting zone, direction of swing and swing path plan;  
   at least one device, embedded in said sporting implement, from a set of devices comprising: a microcontroller and a digital signal processor (DSP) for dynamically determining said one or more results;    at least one display module embedded in said sporting implement, said display module for displaying said one or more results; and 
 at least one communication module embedded in said sporting implement, said communication module for sending said parameters to a remote computer for further processing.  
   
     
     
         20 . A method for providing sports performance feedback to a sports player who is using a sporting implement, the method comprising: 
 using sensors embedded in said sporting implement for measuring velocity, acceleration and orientation parameters; and    using said parameters for dynamically determining one or more results from a set comprising: 
 movement profile, launch angle, face angle and impact speed, hitting zone, direction of swing and swing path plan.